The Appalachian Center for Craft (ACC) @tntechcraftcenter, the third stop on my tour, is unique because it operates as Tennessee Tech University's (TTU) School of Art, Craft, and Design and offers in-person and virtual workshops in a variety of craft mediums to the public, including high school and youth outreach programs.

In the ceramics studio, I found a wide range of kilns, generous studio space overlooking vibrant green hills and lush forest, and an enviable collection of work in the studio's "boneyard"—a term used to describe work that is produced by visiting artists as samples in workshops that focus on construction techniques. The works are bisque-fired for posterity - producing a bone-like appearance - but never glazed.

The ceramics program at TTU is run almost single-handedly by @jessicawilsonceramics, who indulged me in extensive conversations about the challenges and opportunities of working within the unique program model, the history of the centre, and some good old-fashioned kiln tech discussions.

The Center is about 30 minutes from the University's main campus and includes on-site housing, dedicated studios, galleries, and a craft store with work available from artists affiliated with the Center. Situated on an expansive green landscape and surrounded on nearly all sides by Center Hill Lake, it seemed like a fantastic environment to become wholly immersed in one's practice.
Interestingly, the centre's land is leased from the Army Core of Engineers for something crazy like one dollar for 50 years.